AJ ‘Top Dolla’ Francis’ unfortunate botch on SmackDown may have become a meme among wrestling fans, but it also saved the young wrestler’s life.
During the December 16, 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown, Top Dolla attempted a dive to the outside of the ring that didn’t go as planned. Dolla didn’t reach the necessary elevation and flopped outside of the ring, with his mistake being mocked online. The mistake was also made into an angle, as WWE Superstars would mock Dolla for the botch, bringing out a more aggressive side of the Superstar.
The Botch That Saved His Life
Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of what happened, Top Dolla said that in the past, he’d performed the dive and his legs had felt “off” but didn’t think about it. After the mistake on SmackDown, he decided to see a doctor and learned he had Type II Diabetes.
The botch saved my life. I made that dive a dozen times before, legs felt off but I didn’t think about it. After I failed I went to the doc & found out I had Type II diabetes & my blood sugar was 626.
I almost lost my life & was about to lose both feet. The botch saved my life. https://t.co/NV1zxspjr2
— Dolla ? (@AJFrancis410) December 17, 2023
Unused Plans
In the weeks that followed, Michael Cole would routinely mock Top Dolla for the botch and would poke fun at the Superstar . Last month, Top Dolla revealed that Cole’s comments were never malicious and that he was always on board with them. The plan, according to the ex-Superstar, was a PLE match, in which Cole would beat him after Dolla was distracted by a wrestler.
Top Dolla felt disappointment and shame after his initial release from WWE in late 2021, mere weeks after being called to the main roster. Click here to find out more.